Cryptic density dependence: the effects of spatial, ontogenetic, and individual variation in reef fish

隐密度依赖性：珊瑚鱼空间、个体发育和个体变异的影响

• 批准号: 0242312
• 负责人: Craig Osenberg
• 金额: $ 69.75万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-04-01 至 2008-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0242312&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Cryptic; density; dependence; effects; spatial

Ecologists have long been interested in the factors that drive spatial and temporal variability in population density and structure. In marine reef systems, attention has focused on the role of settlement-the transition of pelagic larvae to a benthic stage-and on density-dependent processes affecting recently settled juveniles. Recent data suggest that co-variance in settlement and subsequent density-dependent survival can obscure the patterns of density dependence at larger scales, a phenomenon called cryptic density dependence. This research will explore the mechanisms that underlie the spatial covariance of settlement and site quality - a process that has received little attention in the standard paradigm. These mechanistic studies of cryptic density dependence will facilitate the development of new frameworks for fish population dynamics that incorporate larval ecology, habitat quality, density dependence, life history, and the patterns and implications of spatial covariance among these factors. More generally, the work provides a specific empirical context, and a general theoretical treatment, of cryptic heterogeneity (hidden individual variation in demographic rates). Training in this project will involve undergraduate and graduate students in quantitative and experimental marine ecology. Additionally, undergraduates will be involved through supervised research courses. Students will be trained in field and lab techniques; they will also have the opportunity to work with collaborators from Australia and New Zealand. This project has broader implications for the management of marine fisheries, including harvested food fisheries (which can seldom be studied experimentally and thus probably exhibit cryptic density dependence) and marine ornamentals (fish and invertebrates harvested for the aquarium trade) which can be studied well but for which there is a significant divide between science and management and policy.

生态学家长期以来一直对驱动人口密度和结构的空间和时间变异性的因素感兴趣。在海洋礁系统中，注意力集中在定居点的作用上 - 上层幼虫向底栖阶段的过渡以及影响最近定居少年的密度依赖性过程。最近的数据表明，在沉降和随后的密度依赖性生存方面的共变性可以掩盖较大尺度上密度依赖的模式，这一现象称为隐性密度依赖性。这项研究将探讨基于定居和现场质量空间协方差的机制，该过程在标准范式中很少关注。这些神秘密度依赖性的机械研究将有助于为鱼类种群动态的新框架开发，这些框架结合了幼虫生态学，栖息地质量，密度依赖性，生活史，以及这些因素之间空间协方差的模式和含义。更一般而言，这项工作提供了一个特定的经验背景，以及一种隐性异质性（人口统计学率的隐藏差异）的一般理论待遇。 该项目的培训将涉及本科生和研究生参与定量和实验海洋生态。 此外，本科生将通过监督的研究课程参与。 学生将接受现场和实验室技术的培训；他们还将有机会与澳大利亚和新西兰的合作者合作。该项目对海洋渔业的管理具有更广泛的影响科学与管理与政策之间存在重大鸿沟。